Toward the end of trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.14 percent to 16,541.45 while the NASDAQ surged dropped 0.41 percent to 4,050.95. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.16 percent to 1,875.68.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Thursday, telecommunications services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.07 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB), up 18.7 percent, and CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), up 6.1 percent. Utilities shares declined by 0.63 percent in Thursday's trading.

Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included The AES (NYSE: AES), down 2.9 percent, and Regency Energy Partners LP (NYSE: RGP), off 4.6 percent.

Top Headline
Wendy's Co (NASDAQ: WEN) reported a rise in its first-quarter earnings. Wendy's posted its quarterly earnings of $46.3 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to $2.1 million, or a penny per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue shrank 13% to $523.2 million, while operating expenses declined 25%. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.05 per share on revenue of $498 million. Wendy's same-restaurant sales gained 1.3%.

Equities Trading UP
Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) was up on Thursday's session, gaining 6.01 percent to $5.65 after the company caught a relief rally following its earnings report Wednesday.

Shares of SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) got a boost, shooting up 11.93 percent to $53.47 after the company reported a narrower first-quarter loss and lifted its full-year outlook.

Keurig Green Mountain (NASDAQ: GMCR) shares were also up, gaining 12.97 percent to $104.17 after the company reported a 22% rise in its fiscal second-quarter net income.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Gulfport Energy (NASDAQ: GPOR) were 18.48 percent to $59.54 after the company reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter results.

NPS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NPSP) shares tumbled 11.61 percent to $23.90 after the company reported a Q1 loss of $0.06 per share on revenue of $44.0 million.

Millennial Media (NYSE: MM) also took a beating, falling 37.01 percent after the company's report disappointed the street, while its guidance further hurt its case.